Chapter 23

Yns pov:
Bruce has made me live in med bay for a week now. My cuts and bruises have started to heal and im off the diuretics – thank god, i was peeing every 30 minutes. Im losing the sling today. Things have been great. Yelena has been spending all her time in here with me, watching films and playing games. It makes me forget what happened. I havent opened up to anyone yet. Not really. They know they drowned me but i didnt tell them how. I want a week away from the crazy. Ill tell them soon, just not yet. Yelenas face is buried in the crook of my neck as she lays next to me on the hospital bed. We’ve been laying like this all day, its risky considering we arent telling anyone yet. Things have been great, but since ive been stuck here, all we’ve been able to do is make out. Which is fun, but ive missed her touch. Percy jackson plays in the background, it turns out lena robbed these from my apartment to remind her of me. Her hands slide under my shirt, trailing up my side as she kisses my neck. I chuckle and lift her chin up to kiss her. “What are you doing? This is a very public space.”

She groans but doesnt move, she just stops kissing me and i already regret it. “I know but bruce is getting on my nerves. All i wanna do is make you-” Wanda clears her throat and we both look at her stood in the doorway. “Make you happy.” Nice save lena. Really convincing.

“Wanda, please dont say anything to anyone!” She comes over and sita next to my bed as yelena peels herself away from me. I feel incomplete wothout her next to me.

“Why? You guys are cute together.” She smirks at me and a rosey pink spreads up my face.

“We want to get used to us before we tell people. Enjoy it while its private.” She nods but presses her lips into a tight line.

“Can i atleast tell nat?” Yelena gasps and sits on the edge of her chair.

“Absolutely not. Shes the last person i want to know. She will get annoyingly involved, she always does.” Its nice that theyre so close, i wish i had a sibling wjo cared for me like that. Peters not even been to visit me yet.

“Fine i wont tell her. But she will kill me when she finds out.”

“Have you seen peter?” It kills the mood, but i have to know. Ive been asking everyday and everyday the answer is the same.

“No, hes still in pietros room. He knows youre awake, im not sure why he hasnt visited you.” Her lips twitch into a pathetic attempt at a smile and i feel the light in my heart dull slightly. I wish i had a brother who cared. I guess i just pushed him past his breaking point.

“When can i leave medbay? As much as i love the attention,” I look pointedly at yelena who has barely left since i woke up. “I would like to be in my own bed and-“

Wanda scrunches her face. “Oh i dont think i need to know about that.” Yelena cackles loudly and i see by the way wamda watches her that its been a minute since shes laughed like her. I guess they missed yelena as much as i did.

“And i would like to go for a walk.” Wanda tilts her head confused as she glances towards yelena. “Ive been sat down for weeks. Well except for my little walk over here. After they finished drowning me, they left me chained to that chair while they beat me.” This is the first time ive mentioned what happened. I see them both still, like they might scare me off. Im not a frail baby deer, i wont scare easily.

“How did they drown you?” Finally, someone asks. I find it difficult to open up. Its easier if im just answering a question – its less personal.

“They locked me in a large box where they could see in but i couldnt see out. They interrogated me and everytime i lied or said a sarcastic comment, it filled with water slowly and i drowned. I only passed out a handful of times though.” Their jaws unhinge. I guess it wasnt as casual as i thought it was. I dont know, it doesnt feel like a big deal, but maybe thats because it happened to me.

“Wow thats dark. I bet you said a lot of sarcastic comments anyway right?” Yelena always says the right thing. I smile, glad of the change in tone.

“Oh absolutely, they can never break me so much that i dont provoke them. This one guy with a german accent was uglier than hitler.” A small involuntary chuckle slips past wandas lips and i feel at hone again. This feels better, normal. It feels like everything is going to be okay for the first time in years.

Bruce slinks into the room, quiet as ever, trying to not make noise and to not take up too much space. I feel bad for him, hes been here for years and he still feels out of place. I get what that feels like though, when i lived with my dad, my home was never really mine. I was always out of place there. He slides by my bed in the small gap between wandad chair and my bed. “Right, how is your arm feeling?”

“Completely fine. Definitely ready to drop the sling.” He gives me a pointed look that says he’ll decide that. He gently removes my sling and rotates my arm in multiple directions, testing its flexibility. It aches slightly but its not a searing pain like before. Its definitely healing.

“Does it hurt at all to move?” I shake my head but he doesnt look away or drop my arm. Just waits for me to tell the truth.

I sigh and he lowers my arm. “A slight, dull ache, thats it, the pain is gone.” He smiles and nods, writing on his clipboard. He does love recording everything.

“Good news. You can lose the sling. Just try not to overuse your arm, though that shouldnt be too difficult considering its your nondominant hand.”

Yelena smirks before muttering under her breath. “Thats amazing news.” Heat soreads through my face and i try to hold in my laugh by covering my smile with my hand.

Wanda groans and stands up dramatically. “Since youre getting out of medbay, ill see you when you arent around that.” She points at yelena who throws a pillow in her direction, but clearly intentionally missing her. When wanda leaves, yelena turns back tonme but im already staring at her.

“What? If i hit her, nat will come after me. And i wish i was exaggerating.” I roll my eyes and swing my legs over the side of the bed.

“Woah! Hold on!” Bruce throws out his hands to stop me. “I didnt say you could leave yet. You havent had all your exams!”

“Screw exams, im bored.” I stand up and yelena helps me, holding my hands. My vision swims and it feels like the floor is getting closer. “Woah, dizzy.” I sway for a few seconds before quickly recovering. Yelena throws my arm over her shoulder and helps me walk towards the door. “Thank you, i need to get out of here.”

The more i walk, the better i feel. The dizziness is gone and i can walk on my own. We walk in no particular direction and we dont really talk, we just enjoy each others company. Her gaze keeps wandering back to my face and her finger twitches every time our hands brush each other. “Hey, wanna go unpack the boxes in your room?”

“I have a room?” I didnt know they actually moved my stuff here. Then again i cant expect them to pay for an unused apartment.

“Yeah its that one next to mine.” I grab her hand and walk, trying to remember the way, she chuckles at my wrong turns and pulls me the right way.

“How do you not know the way yet?” She  looks at me with that look. I cant really describe it, but theres a rawness in her eyes that makes me feel like shes undressing me.

“Maybe i need more practice going to your room.” She chuckles and the look in her eyes deepens before she pulls me in a different direction, my back hitting lightly against the wooden door.

“This ones your room.” Shes leans in closer, her lips brushing mine. I kiss her, desperation taking over as she opens my door and i drag her inside by her shirt. She picks me up and lays me on my bed. Shes halfway through pulling down my joggers when we hear…sounds.

She pulls away and we stare at each other for a minute while our ragged breaths settle.”Whos room is on the otherside of mine?”

She scrunches her nose and pulls away, standing up. “Lets go to my room.” I tilt my head, confusion taking over. “Wandas room is next to yours.”

Wait so whos in there with- “OH.” My eyes widen and i try to suppress a smile. “I guess this is payback for reminding me about peter and pietro the morning my dad was arrested.” She rolls her eyes and grabs my hand, pulling me towards the door. “Wait! Lena, my joggers.” She just chuckles as i try to pull my joggers up with one hand. I manage to pull them the last bit of the way just as im dragged out of my room. She stops dead in her tracks, dropping my hand instantly. When i see why, my blood runs cold. Nat. Shes stood outside yelenas room, waiting for her.

“Its about time, i couldnt find you anywhere.” Oh natasha. Guilt gnaws at my stomach and i want to kill wanda myself.

“Wait if youre here, then who…” yelena trails off as she comes to the same realisation i did. There was definitely two people in her room.

“Who what?” She folds her arms, letting out a bored sigh. I dont want to tell her. She doesnt deserve this.

“Wanda…” nats eyebrows pull taut together, hearing how serious lenas voice is, “she is in her room with who we thought was you, but evidently is not.” Her face falls and she shifts uncomfortably on her feet. Someone should hug her. Maybe break down wandas door, requesting answers.

Her face returns to normal, no anger, no sadness, just numb. Its terrifying. “When?”

“Right now.” Hurt flashes in her eyes and i wish i could turn invisible. Still her face remains emotionless.

“If she asks where i am, im in the living room.” She walks off in an eery calm. Shes a black widow, she always has a plan and shes always a second away from becoming lethal.

“Im worried about her.” I can hear it in her voice, the quiet concern. “I cant believe wanda would do that. They were perfect together.” Maybe not. Wanda was clearly pretending and nat deserves better than fake feelings.

“What are we going to do?” I interlock my fingers with her, trying to ease some of the guilt shes feeling – anyone else wouldve told her and felt bad, but gotten over it. Not yelena.

“What do you mean?” Her eyes trail over my face, a newfound respect shimmering just beneath the surface.

“She cheated on her. How are we gonna get back at her?”

“Isnt she your friend?” I dont trust people who cant be faithful to the person they are meant to love.

“Not anymore. So what are you thinking? Leave a speaker under her bed and play spooky sounds just loud enough that she doesnt feel safe in her safe space?”

“Remind me never to cross you.” Wandas door jostles open. Our attention swings to her. She edges the door shut but just stands there awkwardly staring at us.

“Sorry am i interrupting a first fight?” Shes about to be involved in a final fight. Yelena goes to step towards her but i hold her back, offering wanda a small smile. My words are clipped and bitter despite my best efforts.

“No. Nat is looking for you. Shes in the living room.” She just quietly walks away and yelena turns to me, anger contorting her face.

“What the hell was that?”

“Nat probably wants to confront her, its not for us to do it in her place. Let her have this closure.” She tucks a loose long blonde tendril behind her ear, and her rigid shoulders sag in defeat. “Lets unpack yeah? Give them some space.” She just nods and heads into my room. The tension is thick and this time i dont know how to diffuse it.

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Nats pov:
She plops down next to me, her hands finding mine out of habit. Sick crawls up my throat. She was touching god knows who with those hands literally minutes ago. “Hey whats up?” I coldly pull away my hands, not even acknowledging her as i move further away on the sofa.

I cant bring myself to look at her as i sound the words. “I know you cheated.” I see her freeze in my peripheral vision. Good. That panic, that confusion is how ive felt ever since i heard yelenas words. I havent felt my heart beat since she sat down. She doesnt deny it, she just rubs her fingers over her swollen lips. “Why?”

Her voice is hoarse, packed with emotion. “Ive felt it for a while now.” Love for someone else? Or a lack of love for me? “Falling out of love. I didnt tell you because i didnt want to hurt you.”

“So you cheated?” How is that the better option? I can handle a break up! I can handle her saying that her feelings have changed! What i cant handle is her lying to me and being unfaithful in the same bed i was still sleeping in!

“I didnt know what else to do! I still care about you, just not in the same way.” Clearly not because you dont go out of your way to hurt someone you care about.

“So this is it?”

“Yeah, i guess so. Im so sorry nat.” I school my features, she may have hurt me but i wont give her the satisfaction of knowing how much.

My words sound more stable than i feel. “I hope they make you happy.” I swallow the evergrowing lump thats in my throat.

“He does.” That destroys me. My legs feel weak and i just get up, quietly walking away. Shes not worth my anger.

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Yns pov:
We havent spoken. Im letting her think through her anger. We’ve unpacked three boxes and theres only one left. I tried not to leave too much of me on show in that house. David would always use it against me somehow. Destroy my favourite things in heated arguments. Or in preparation to beat me when i return home. She suddenly lets out a short chuckle, startling me. “What?”

“Is this an american pie cd?” My cheeks flush red and i snatch it from her hand, placing it on the sturdy desk.

“I looked for it after you told me its the only song you liked.”

She smirks and pulls me closer, her lips softly pressing against mine. “Youre a big softy.” I playfully smack her arm and pull away.

Jarvis’s robotic voice booms through the room. “Mr stark has requested me to inform everyone that there will be a party hosted tonight, be ready in two hours.”

Yelena groans and i turn to her, panic sitting on my chest. “What do i wear? Ive never been to a party like this.” She gives me a soft smile and everything feels right again. When its just us, its like our own bubble where we can take off our masks.

“Ill help you get ready, ive never actually been to one of the parties, but ive seen people heading in.” I heard she wasnt exactly sociable before, but i figured a place with lots of alcohol and a shit tonne of people so she can blend in, would be just her scene. We put my clothes away. It was the bulk of the boxes. I couldnt show personality through anything else, so i made sure to hold onto my clothes. She snoopd through them for a little while – although im surprised this is the first time shes done it. I hear the hangers scratch against the metal bar whilst i continue to empty the last box.

“Any luck lena?” I stack my percy jackson collection on my desk, ill sort through them later. This day has been too long for that. My ribs still ache and my shoulder is starting to feel stiff from using it so much. Luckily, my concussive symptoms died down after the first few days. “Lena?” I turn, seeing her stood there, a big grin stretching across her face. Shes gripping a short black dress that has a very low neckline and that outlines everything that should be. It used to be my way into and out of clubs and to get free drinks. “Dont you think thats a little…slutty?”

Her smile only grows with the fire in her eyes. “So what? Make a statement.” I scoff and fold my arms. I really hope she knows what shes doing. Everyone will be talking about me, and not in a good way. I give in, pulling the dress from her grip.

“You had better start getting ready, we only have 2 hours. Although 7 is a little early for a party.” She scoffs and a smirk plays on her lips.

“Not for tonys partys. They usually end in 3am scandals.”

My mouth hangs open as i stare at her. “3am! They go on for that long?” Jesus, this thing better be interesting, otherwise im leaving early. I head into the bathroom to get changed and make myself presentable for the party. An electric buzz rides along my skin and i dont know if this surge of power is from nerves or excitement. Its been years since ive had fun and been to a party, but this time its with a completely different crowd.